Wednesday, November 25, 2009

What I'm Thankful For...

Since it's the day before Thanksgiving, and, I've been reading several blogs lately with thankful lists, I decided to create my own. :

1. I'm thankful for my husband who encourages me to do whatever I want with my life. Thank you God for sending him to me.
2. I'm thankful for my cats and dogs who give unconditional love and companionship to us both.
3. I'm thankful for my friends who I can share my interests and hobbies, as well as my thoughts and opinions with.
4. I'm thankful for learning to spin. It's opened up a whole new area in the fiber world to me.
5. I'm thankful for learning to dye. Sandi N. started me on a whole new path with this.
6. I'm thankful for not having to get up in the morning and go to work. Retirement is great.
7. I'm thankful for having a husband who also helps make retirement possible without a part time job. :)
8. I'm thankful for my health, which could be a lot worse than it is right now.
9. I'm thankful for the patience to deal with situations that are not always pleasant.
10. I'm thankful for the ability to cope with people who are not always pleasant.
11. I'm thankful for my house and knowing I will always have a roof over my head.
12. I'm thankful for knowing I will always have food on my table, clothes on my back, a car to drive, and heat to keep me warm in the cold weather.

I could keep going, but, will stop there. Do you have a "Thankful List"? Leave a comment and tell me yours.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

A Busy Fiber Week

Last week was a busy one with fiber related stuff.
Thursday night was my Ocean State Knitting Guild meeting where we had an ornament swap.
Saturday was my RI Spinners Guild meeting where we had plying and needlefelting demos.
Sunday was spent with a group of other spinning friends. Lots of laughter and fun from everyone, including a "visiting" husband. He came in to say hi and stayed, talking and telling us stories.
Monday was a rode trip to a mill in Woonsocket to pick up a huge pile of free cones of yarns. Ann R. had already generously given some to several groups and guilds. She isn't taking orders any longer, but, invited any of us who wanted to go up to the mill to help ourselves. I came home with some more of the mohair blend, wool, cotton, polymide blend, and something else. My loom and needles will be put to good use with these fibers. The dyes will be used on some of the white mohair or cotton as well.
Tuesday was knit night at Sue's.
Wednesday was the official beginning of another fiber arts group I belong to.
This evening, Thursday, will be spent washing some more fleece and maybe dyeing some fiber as I do the laundry.

My mail delivery has been busy too. One of my favorite Etsy shops has been having a cleaning event. I've got some lovely goodies to spin and dye. So far 2 boxes have come in and there should be 1 more. I need to stay away from her shop now. lol

That's all my news for now. Happy spinning and knitting.

Friday, November 13, 2009

WIP Spinning, Ditto Knitting, Winning A Prize

This has been a busy few weeks of plying. So far I've finished some Flawful Fibers Rambouillet in lovely light purple shades, of which the name escapes me at this time. Also, my Tour de Fleece singles, "Cabot", from Creatively Dyed came out lovely.

Halloween was spent at RI Handspun where several of us decided to celebrate the day by either dressing in black/orange or spinning fibers that reminded us of Autumn/Halloween. I spun up the Witch's Brew I had carded at the spinners guild party earlier in the month.

The purple/teal/pink Rambouillet bought at Rhinebeck is spinning up and will be very pretty as a two ply.

"Ditto" is progressing nicely. I've finished the body and started the first sleeve.As I mentioned before, instead of short sleeves, I chose to modify the pattern and make it a long sleeved sweater. Thanks to Sarah for suggesting Elizabeth Zimmerman's book, "Knitting Without Tears". It was easy to figure out what to do.

Sock withdrawal has set in, and, one needs to be started soon. Through the Loops Mystery Sock was tabled so I could start my sweater. The yarn has been sitting next to my desk tempting me for over a month now. It might just be cast on later this evening. :)

Recently I went shopping on Etsy. I found some delicious Milk Silk Latte for sale from CorgiHillFarm. The fiber is so nice I ordered another shipment, along with a luscious batt called "Pomegranate Milkshake". Anna was giving away a $50 gift certificate to her shop with the 500th item sold. I never notice what item number I am when I place an order. I got a happy surprise when I went to check my email and found I had won the gift certificate. Everything in this shop is so tempting, making it hard to decide what to buy with it.